BEREA: If the Browns' season of promise turns into one to forget, a seemingly meaningless loss in August could be the turning point.

More specifically, it might be a disastrous 3 minutes and 23 seconds in the Meadowlands on Aug. 18.

In that span, Cleveland gave up 16 points and lost starting quarterback Derek Anderson to a concussion and running back Jamal Lewis to a hamstring injury.

Scoring on a safety after a blocked punt, a free kick returned for a touchdown and a 95-yard fumble return of a muffed handoff in a span of 76 seconds, the Giants turned a 14-3 lead into a 30-3 advantage in the preseason game. Lewis pulled up lame giving chase on the fumble return. Then Anderson was knocked into the abyss on a sack, sending his confidence and the Browns' offense into a tailspin from which it has yet to recover.

''Everything went wrong early, and it was like, 'Boom,' '' linebacker Andra Davis recalled Monday. ''A pass interference, personal fouls, Sean Jones slipped and the dude caught the ball.

''It was crazy. They got plays off things that wouldn't usually happen. The first touchdown was a miscommunication on defense, half the guys were playing one coverage and the other guys were playing another. Sean slipped; that doesn't happen. Old boy ran the kickoff return back.''

For the record, ''dude'' and ''old boy'' refer to former University of Akron receiver Domenik Hixon, who scored three touchdowns — on the miscommunication, Jones' slip and the kickoff return. Davis didn't even mention the Browns' 98 yards in penalties in the first quarter, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call on him when the referee said Davis swung and missed, which he later denied.

Browns fans wanted to burn their team's new brown pants in effigy after five starters (counting Pro Bowl return man Joshua Cribbs, who suffered a high ankle sprain) were lost to injury. Also hurt were free safety Brodney Pool (concussion) and linebacker Willie McGinest (groin).

On Aug. 30, Browns General Manager Phil Savage referred to the stunning turn of events as a ''spell of five to 10 minutes where we lost our minds.''

Eight weeks to the day comes a chance for redemption. Rested from three days off over last weekend's bye, the Browns (1-3) host the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (4-0) at 8:30 Monday, Cleveland's first appearance on Monday Night Football since Dec. 8, 2003.

''They embarrassed us. That will add an extra chip on our shoulder,'' Cribbs said. ''We want that win most of all. We're looking for some payback.''

Also foremost in the Browns' minds is that both games are on Monday night.

''It was a nationally televised game, and the way we performed is not the way that this team should be thought of,'' cornerback Brandon McDonald said.

Davis said, ''This is a good opportunity to show the world we're definitely way better than what we put out there in preseason.''

Browns coach Romeo Crennel attributed his team's woes against the Giants in preseason to ''poor choices and poor execution.'' With an already tough schedule looking more daunting by the day, Crennel knows his team must clean up those gaffes.

A Browns victory could bring huge rewards, Davis said.

''It could definitely turn the season around to beat the Super Bowl champs and do it on national television,'' he said.

Injury update

Among those missing in a light practice Monday were running backs Lewis and Jason Wright. Also out were defensive tackle Sean Rogers (shoulder), right tackle Kevin Shaffer (concussion) and defensive lineman Shaun Smith (hand surgery).

Strong safety Sean Jones started running straight ahead after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 11, but Crennel said Jones is not supposed to be back until next week. Jones said it could be a game-time decision.

''When I first had the surgery, doc told me it's a three- to six-week injury. Four weeks is Thursday. He said there was an outside chance of the Giants game,'' Jones said. ''I'm coming along. The swelling is out. I'm running.

''Now I've got to get confident, moving laterally and all that. Hopefully by Monday it's going to be good enough, but I'm going to play it smart. I'm going to be out there as soon as I can.''

Tucker to tackle

Shaffer is not certain to play against the Giants, mainly because he's had more than one concussion. He didn't want to say how many. He was hurt Sept. 28 at Cincinnati, when he was kicked in the back of the head.

''That's how I've gotten other ones,'' Shaffer said. ''This one seemed decently mild, like the other ones. I was knocked out for a little bit, then able to figure out what I was doing. My balance and my memory were a little off. Every day it seemed to either come or go or have some symptoms. Now I'm trying to get back to normal.''

Ryan Tucker, sidelined since undergoing surgery for a fractured hip in May, appears to be ready to return. He might play right tackle even if Shaffer is available, after spending the final eight games of 2007 at right guard. He said tackle is where he has spent most time practicing.

Last year, Tucker was re-energized with the switch to guard, but returning to the position where he has played most of his 12 years in the league is not a problem.

''No, no. I just want to get back on the field,'' he said. ''Seems these past two years I've been taking these four-game breaks. I'm kind of sick of it. It does help me out at the end of the season, that's for sure.''

Tucker sat out the first four games of 2007 after being suspended by the league for steroid use.